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The Antarctic tern (Sterna vittata) is a seabird in the family Laridae. It ranges throughout the southern oceans and is found on small islands around Antarctica as well as on the shores of the mainland. Its diet consists primarily of small fish and crustaceans. It is very similar in appearance to the closely related Arctic tern, but it is stockier, and it is in its breeding plumage in the southern summer, when the Arctic tern has shed old feathers to get its non-breeding plumage. The Antarctic tern does not migrate like the Arctic tern does, but it can still be found on a very large range. This tern species is actually more closely related to the South American tern.
Gulls, skuas and jaegers are the primary predators of the bird's eggs and young.
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Birds described in 1789Birds of AntarcticaBirds of islands of the Atlantic OceanBirds of New ZealandBirds of subantarctic islandsBirds of the Campbell IslandsBirds of the Indian OceanBirds of the Southern OceanFauna of Heard Island and McDonald IslandsFauna of Macquarie IslandFauna of the Prince Edward IslandsIUCN Red List least concern species